Member forum to discuss next steps in local democratic control statute

Tuesday, September 12, 2017 at 8:45 AM

During the 2017 Legislative Session the Minnesota Legislature passed and the Governor signed a provision that reduces duplicative regulation on your electric cooperative. This local democracy legislation ensures decisions that impact member-owners of Wright-Hennepin (WH) are made by your locally elected board of directors. 

The legislation impacts the distributed generation section of statute and brings it in line with the rest of Minnesota Statute as it applies to rates, fees and charges of electric cooperatives. Electric cooperatives will follow the law as laid out by the legislature. Specifically, WH is considering whether to adopt authority to implement this section of statute (Minnesota Statute 216B.164). If the Board elects to do so, WH must pass a resolution to adopt this authority and implement related rules.

With the passage of the provision, the legislature affirmed the value of local decision-making and will result in rates and services that reflect our community’s needs while keeping administrative costs down.

Consequently:

• The WH Board will address adoption of Minnesota Statute 216B.164 at a member forum on Tuesday, September 12, 2017.  
• The forum will be held in WH's Hannon Conference Center at 6800 Electric Drive, Rockford, Minnesota at 8:45 a.m.
• Members who are interested in learning more about this legislation are encouraged to attend. Members will have the opportunity to provide feedback. 
• Members may also submit questions or concerns by contacting WH at info@whe.org. Mailed comments should be sent to: 

Wright-Hennepin Cooperative 
Electric Association
Attn: WH Board of Directors
PO Box 330
Rockford, MN 55373

• Submitted comments or questions must be postmarked no later than  September 8, 2017.